52. Every Hour Until Then

52. Every Hour Until Then (Timeless #5) Gabrielle Meyer. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [speculative fiction, historical fiction, time travel, christian fiction, 5 stars]

First sentence: A cold wind rattled the window frame in my bedroom at 11 Wilton Crescent as the edges of a tree branch scraped across the glass.

Premise/plot: The Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer are speculative fiction heavy on the romance. Each is a 'timeslip' novel where the heroine is living in two time periods. She lives each day twice: once in each time period. She alternates where she wakes up essentially. Her first name is the same in both timelines. Kathryn, our heroine, is living in 1888 and 1938. In one timeline, JACK THE RIPPER is splashed across the newspapers. IN the other timeline, ADOLF HITLER is. She loves history in both timelines. But she has perhaps a better job in 1938. She is, in fact, hired to put together an exhibit on Jack the Ripper in 1938 for the London Museum. For better or worse, her time in the 'present day' of 1938 is effecting how she is living life in 1888. She knows WHO the victims will be and the details surrounding their death. She knows that the killer will not be brought to justice and is in fact still very much a mystery. She is tempted to see for herself if she can figure out WHO he is by hiding at the scene of his crimes. Especially when she knows one of the future victims. Will she risk it all to save a life?

My thoughts: This might be my favorite of the series. Perhaps. For the record, some of the books in this series I have not cared for at all. This one was extremely different from previous books. It was more MYSTERY and SUSPENSE then romance. That's not to say the love interest in the past lacked charm, he did. It's just that there was no love triangle--like in previous titles in the series where some attempt is made to be angsty in the love department. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

26. The Brilliance of Stars

The Brilliance of Stars. (Jack and Ivy #1) J'nell Ciesielski. 2022. [November] 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: She kissed Jack hard on the mouth, then aimed her Beretta over his shoulder and fired a round of shots down the medieval corridor of Dobryzov Castle. 

The Brilliance of Stars is a spy-thriller-romance with hints of the supernatural. It is set during the midst of the first world war or the "great war" or the "war to end all wars." It is published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, so I assumed that it would be Christian fiction.

Ivy and Philip are orphans continually down on their luck. Though not biologically related, they've been there for each other in their darkest of days. And their luck changes--for better or worse--when they are together on the streets. They stumble across something that could potentially prove deadly... a very private conversation with spies in a super secret spy organization. But, the two are taken back to head quarters and are essentially recruited. (Because why not??? Homeless orphans with no education are prime potential spies.) Philip is drawn to the weapons and inventions and the fighting action--or potential thereof. And Ivy, well, Ivy is drawn to the intellectual aspects of it. She'll learn to read and write English, and pick up a dozen plus foreign languages in just a year or possibly two. All the while packing away history, literature, and folklore for multiple cultures. She'll need quick recall of all the above for her super-secret missions in warring countries.

Jack Vale, our super-dreamy hero, is training both Philip and Ivy. Though he's falling truly, madly, deeply in love with Ivy. (Though pretending not to.) When they are deemed field ready, he'll be supervising them both. The three of them will form part of a team...and most of their mission will occur in a war-torn, toppling Russia. 

Their spy missions have absolutely nothing to do with World War I OR with the Russian Revolution. Their spy missions instead have completely everything to do with super secret spy organizations with occult ties. So think MARVEL MOVIES or ALIAS. The potential 'supernatural' connection has more to do with vampire folklore and the occult than to anything else. I also feel the author was inspired by this Marvel-esque super soldier idea.

I was drawn to this one potentially because of WORLD WAR I and, you know, actual history. Whether the focus was on World War I in general OR the Russian Revolution, it didn't matter so much. But I wasn't interested in a spy/thriller that was focused more on occult super secret evil organizations. So the book began to lose me when it went that direction. 

There is so much potential for stories set in the real world in Russia during 1917 that I didn't need this other. 

The romance I felt was a little heavy-handed. The dialogue was very cheesy. Which might work for some readers. No judgment. But it gave off Anakin and Padme vibes. Again, just my opinion. And to be published by a Christian publisher, I felt it was a little too physically graphic. Granted, they were married. But still. That doesn't mean readers need so much information about intimate moments.

The writing wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

• Jack gritted his teeth as fury boiled to his lips. 
• Blood trickled from the slash angled across her bicep, the bright red drops marring her white skin and glowing in the campfire light.
• The body that belonged to the voice stepped out of the darkness, unshrouding itself from a memory of billowing smoke, panicked screams ripping through a castle, and a single bullet lodging into skull and brain.
• Balaur uprooted himself like a mushroom from its mud pit and walked to the reindeer, crooning low in his throat.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

58. When Twilight Breaks

When Twilight Breaks. Sarah Sundin. 2021. [February] 365 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Evelyn Brand had done a crack bit of journalism, and she hadn't even had to dress like a man to do so.

Evelyn Brand, our heroine, is an American correspondent working for the American News Service. Her dream job would have her living in Berlin and covering the biggest stories. It would be ideal if she could phone in her stories WITHOUT having to get the extra-approval of her boss, George Norwood. (The other correspondents--all men--don't have to go through this extra step.) But, no, Brand finds herself "stuck" in Munich covering lesser stories. 

Peter Lang is teaching at a university in Munich as part of his dissertation. He's got big ideas on how to help German-speakers learn to speak English with a "better" American accent AND how to help Americans learn to speak German with a "better" German accent. Think of him as Professor Higgins--but younger and cuter. 

Evelyn and Peter meet. There's definite attraction, potential for chemistry, but one thing is holding her back--well, two things technically. First and foremost, he seems to be pro-Nazi. He doesn't seem to be "aware" of the bigger pictures and the increasing dangers. The ideology doesn't seem to concern him all that much--after all, he is only there for two semesters, and as an American citizen, it doesn't seem to be anything that would ever effect him personally. The last thing America needs is to get involved in European politics--no matter how melodramatic. Evelyn sees the dangers--not only for the future, but for the present. She wants to have the freedom to write the truth--the whole truth. She's aware that she has to follow certain rules and guidelines--always trying to cover both sides of an issue, seemingly staying neutral, sticking strictly to facts. Unfortunately, Norwood--her boss and editor--changes every story she writes into pro-Germany, pro-Nazi propaganda. She's often shocked to read her story in print because it's been altered so drastically.

The book covers most of 1938 and a little into 1939. Mostly set in Germany. 

It is an INTENSE, action-packed, suspenseful, historical romance. It is DRAMATIC in places but rightly so. The pacing is perhaps a little slow at the start. I was interested from the very beginning because this is one of my favorite genres or sub-genres. But the pace definitely picks up during the second half of the novel. The last third, well, I was actively worried. I was turning pages as fast as I possibly could. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

53. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor

The Vanishing at Loxby manor. Abigail Wilson. 2021. [January] 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from the prologue: "Impetuous. Risky. You needn't hold back now, Piers. I know precisely what's ticking in that mind of yours."

Premise/plot: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is a gothic suspense novel set during the Regency in England. Charity Halliwell, our heroine, has made plans to stay with old family friends while her parents visit her brother in America. The Cavanaghs are old, old family friends. Piers, the oldest son, at one time held her whole heart with no reservations. But his heart wasn't technically free to give in return. Circumstances out of his control interfered with what might have been an offer of marriage. Now that she's returned from a five year stay in Ceylon, she's hoping to slowly but surely find a place for herself in England once again. Perhaps one day--in the far distances--she could find herself a position as a governess. Meanwhile, she wants to RELAX with her friends for a little while. 

But soon after her arrival at Loxby Manor, well, all chances of rest and relaxation vanish....along with the literal vanishing of Selene Cavanagh. The two have a brief conversation. Charity loans out a black cloak and a brooch. Selene sneaks out of the house for a clandestine meeting...and never returns. 

Charity and Piers work together to try to find out what happened....where did Selene go??? Did she elope with someone? Was she kidnapped? Is she being held hostage? Or is she....dead????

My thoughts: Though this is published by a Christian publisher, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one to ANY reader who enjoys gothic mysteries OR Regency romances. It is ALL suspense/mystery/horror/thriller. No preaching, I promise. 

I think my favorite part was that it kept me guessing. I did NOT see the twists and turns in this one. Perhaps other readers might? Certainly every reader is different when it comes to piecing together clues. But I thought it was well done. The gothic atmosphere was perfect. All the little details click into place by the end and it was quite satisfying. You don't recognize as you're reading all the little things that will come together to create quite a big picture. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

43. The Cryptographer's Dilemma

The Cryptographer's Dilemma. Johnnie Alexander. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Green or brown. Brown or green. Phillip Clayton set the unwrapped crayon upright on the diner's Formica tabletop so it stood like a mocking sentinel. 

Premise/plot: While much of Johnnie Alexander's The Cryptographer's Dilemma is fictional, it is loosely based on a real case: The Doll Woman (Velvalee Dickinson). Phillip Clayton (our hero) and Eloise Marshall (our heroine) are FBI agents tracking down a potential traitor to the United States of America. The year is 1942. Eloise is new to the agency, she's a code breaker. She's paired with Phillip Clayton--a man with much more experience, all classified, of course. The two will pose as brother and sister and travel the country together. They've got a mystery to solve....

My thoughts: I found this a compelling read. At the time I started the novel, I didn't know the Doll Woman was real. I was just enjoying it for what it was: historical romance with a strong mystery element set during one of my favorite historical periods to read about. The characters are developed nicely. The romance isn't rushed. The pace is strong and steady. It has its melodramatic moments near the end, but, all in all I enjoyed it.

The Doll Woman received money from the Japanese government in exchange for information about American ships damaged at Pearl Harbor and our shipyards on the West Coast. You can read more about the case here. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Anchor in the Storm

Anchor in the Storm. Sarah Sundin. 2016. Revell. 400 pages. [Review copy]

Sarah Sundin is without a doubt one of my favorite, favorite authors. Mind you, not one of my favorite, favorite "Christian" authors, but one of my favorite authors. She writes historical fiction set around the time of the Second World War.

Anchor in the Storm is the second book in the Waves of Freedom Series. In the first book readers meet Mary Stirling and Jim Avery. In the second book, readers meet Jim's sister, Lillian, and get reacquainted with Jim's friend, Arch. Lillian is a pharmacist--an almost unheard of profession for a woman in 1941--excited about her new job in Boston, she'll be moving in with Mary. (Lillian is one of Mary's many roommates. The third book, I believe, will focus on another of her roommates.)

The book opens dramatically enough with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. That is with the Avery family learning of the bombing and the declaration of war. Jim and Arch are Navy men. They've already seen plenty of action at sea, and, now that war has openly begun, the horrors will only increase. One of the things I appreciate about Sundin's novel--besides the obvious romance and mystery--is the realism.
The problem addressed in the novel is this: the men are suffering--mentally, emotionally, psychologically--because of what they've seen, because of what they've done, because they are always, always on high alert, because awake or asleep some things can't be forgotten. But. That isn't the whole problem. The problem is that the men feel the absolute need to keep quiet about it, feel the need to hide it, ignore it. If the men speak up, they could be dismissed or discharged; they could be labeled weak or coward by other men. Their careers could be over.

So that is where the mystery comes in....how the men secretly cope with their problems...

And this mystery helps Lillian and Arch work through some of their issues. Both Lillian and Arch are flawed, some might even say deeply flawed. And that's another reason I liked this one....

Did I like it, or, did I love it? I definitely LOVED it. But there was one scene--or perhaps even two or three scenes--where I was HORRIBLY ANGRY at Arch and was YELLING at him.

But for the most part, I liked it very much indeed!!!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Tutor's Daughter (2013)

The Tutor's Daughter. Julie Klassen. 2013. Bethany House. 412 pages.

It wasn't quite love at first sight--or love at first sentence, I suppose. But within a few chapters, I knew it was LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. The more I read, the more I loved. This was one of those oh-so-magical, giddy-making historical romances for me. The Tutor's Daughter is a regency romance. (I would DEFINITELY recommend it for fans of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer.) The heroine is a young woman, Emma Smallwood. She has for the last few years greatly helped her father in his teaching or tutoring. In the past, they've taught from their own home or school. But business has been poorly lately, and when he is offered a tutoring position at the home of his would-be-pupil, and that offer extends to his daughter, he accepts. The Smallwoods will be leaving their own home to live with the Weston family. They know the two oldest Weston sons--they are former students now grown to adulthood. But they don't know their new pupils, Rowan and Julian. And nothing prepares them for the reality of living in such a strange and sometimes unwelcoming home. (It feels more like Northanger Abbey than Jane Eyre, perhaps, but there are some secrets, some clues, some mysteries.) The Weston household can be oh-so-strange and not at all what it appears.

When she was younger, Emma was perhaps drawn to the second son, Phillip. But now that she's become reacquainted with both Phillip and Henry, well, she's surprised by how much she does admire and respect Henry! This is SHOCKING to her at first because she perhaps didn't realize that he would grow out of his childishness, his obnoxiousness, his pranks. But he is all grown up now, and he's oh-so-responsible.

I absolutely loved this one so much. It was so compelling, so dramatic, so perfectly perfect!!!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible